Mayan Apocalypse or Winter Solstice

The Mayan apocalypse and winter solstice this year both are on December 21. It’s a very special day on the Mayan calendar. I will explain this in more detail (the rumor about the end of the World) in a minute. People are panicking around the World not that its the first day of winter… but that the second day of winter might not happen.

After December 21 the days start getting longer again in the northern hemisphere! During winter solstice the northern polar tilt of our planet’s polar hemisphere is farthest away from the sun. Also, you will notice if you live in the Northern Hemisphere that the sun’s daily maximum elevation is at its lowest.In many countries in the Southern Hemisphere, including Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, winter begins on 1 June and ends on 31 August. Their summer solstice is December 21. The Equinox is when both poles are equal stance from the sun.

Now if you were a Mayan you would know all about this, especially December 21, 2012. The Mayans anticipated that the earth is going to experience a collision with a planet on 21st December 2012. The precise manner of Armageddon is actually quite vague, but it ranges from a catastrophic celestial collision between Earth and a mythical planet or a giant solar storm. Panic has spread around the world. In France people were getting ready to climb a mountain where they believe aliens will rescue them. I checked my local weather and all seems clear December 21 so far.

NASA explained:

“The story started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is headed toward Earth. This catastrophe was initially predicted for May 2003, but when nothing happened the doomsday date was moved forward to December 2012 and linked to the end of one of the cycles in the ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice in 2012 — hence the predicted doomsday date of December 21, 2012,” NASA said.

But just as your desk calendar ends on Dec. 31 and world keeps going on, the same goes for the Mayan calendar, NASA explained. Just before you run out of pages doesn’t mean life as we know it will cease to exist. The NASA guys are pretty smart, they even put people into space, have PhD’s in physics and stuff like that…. so I’m going with their prediction over the Mayans. Astronaut Chris Hadfield is leaving with some Russians on a lengthy space mission just before December 21 next week. Chris is a Canadian so if the World ends one Canadian and a couple Russian guys will be the only ones left.

Either way its a great excuse not to do your Christmas shopping just yet!

Anyways just after sunset December 21 the brightest 2 planets will be shining, weather permitting. Venus, the brightest, rides low in the southwest just above the setting sun. Jupiter, the second brightest planet, is high in the south.

Many world cities such as Denver, Sydney, Seattle and Toronto even hold winter solstice bike rides to celebrate this special day. So being a cyclist, I have written a few short cycling tips for those of us out there cycling through the winter. And winter is Dec.21….. so I will be out cycling December 22 because its a Saturday and we will likely still be here.

If you bike all year and bike shops still exist after December 21st, I would certainly add or have a good set of tires available if you really intend on going out in the ice. You can also get portable chains to wrap your tires. Cyclists are divided in their opinions about what tires work best. Thick-tread mountain bike tires will increase traction/grip on snow (particularly good for hard-packed), whereas thin tires will cut through the snow (particularly good for loose snow) to the pavement. Some people use studded tires; these are noisy on dry pavement but particularly good for ice.

So, if you are going to ride in the snow get yourself a good pair of cycling chains like these.

Ten tips for riding in the winter:

1. Dress to Stay Dry The wetter you get, the colder you are going to be. Being cold and wet is a quick way to get sick. Keep your core warm. A waterproof vest or jacket with a dropped skirt in the back and a hood is critical for heavy conditions. Wear a wicking underline made from wool or polypropylene and wool socks. Cover your shoes with neoprene booties to insulate them when they are soaked, and use full fingered water- and wind-resistant gloves.

2. Clear Lenses In low light, clear or yellow lenses for eye protection are critical. When riding in the rain, normal sunglasses cut out too much light and can make road obstacles hard to see.

If you are still having issues seeing, a cycling cap placed under the helmet will shield some of the rain and road spray from hitting your glasses. Use an anti-fog product (Rain-X is a good value) so you won’t become legally blind after waiting for a traffic light.

3. Rainbow Patches and Puddles The road surface will be the slickest and most dangerous just after the rain has begun. During this time the rain will cause the oil buildup in the pavement to rise to the surface, causing the road surface to essentially become a giant oil slick.

Keep an eye out for little rainbow-edged patches on the street. This is an indication of an oil patch. Never brake or corner in the center of the roadway at intersections, as this is where autos leave the majority of their drippings. Make an effort to notice metal surfaces such as manhole covers or steel-grid bridge decks, painted traffic markings, or wet leaves, as they all become very slick when wet.

As fun as it may be to bash through puddles, avoid them. More than one cyclist has broken a wheel on a submerged pothole—or submarined into a construction pit that appeared to be a harmless stretch of standing water.

4. Watch Those Brake Pads A mixture of road grit and water turns out to be the fastest method to erode rubber brake pads. Pads that last a full season in the dry will run metal to metal on the rims in a month of wet-weather training rides. Also, most rims require a full revolution before the brake pads squeegee the water from the braking surface and begin stopping. Plan ahead and brake early.

5. Watch the Corners Cornering in the rain can be tricky and dangerous. Shift as much of your weight on the outside pedal as possible. Use body English to keep the bike more upright when cornering. Lean your body more than the bike. By doing this, you will be able to corner with a reasonable amount of speed, as the body will tend to remain balanced over the bike when the tires slide over painted lines and unseen oil patches.

6. Fenders Unite Fenders are not foolishness. If you plan on riding for any length of time, or with others, install fenders on both wheels. It will quadruple your comfort factor and keep your vision crystal clear. It’s one of the unspoken rules that on rainy-day group rides you should never show up without fenders.

Drafting through a thin stream of grimy water gets old in about 10 meters. Several bike companies sell clip-on fenders that mount to the seatpost and downtube to fit bikes without threaded eyelets.

7. More Fenders Don’t stop there! Once you realize how much better riding with fenders is, you’ll want to cut strips from old water bottles to make dangling mud flaps and screw them onto the backsides of your fenders. The longer, the better.

8. Chain Lube Use a heavier chain lube. Go ahead, blob it on that chain—it’s better to have a chain that requires cleaning than to have it freeze up with rust. Remember, your lube won’t penetrate into the links unless the chain is completely dry when you apply it.

9. Light It Up (This one is critical) Let everyone know you are there. Heavy rain and the glare from auto headlights reduce motorists’ vision, so it is a good idea to ride with a bright LED lamp on the seatpost and handlebar.

Be seen. LED lights are relatively inexpensive and work reasonably well. A good, rechargeable lighting system will also provide more light than an LED system, something to consider if your rides take place during early morning or evening.

Finally, if you are only going to spring for one light, a flashing red LED rear lamp is an absolute essential for stormy riding. LED lights are inexpensive and most have clips that allow you to attach them to your bike, backpack, or helmet.

10. Get a Rain Bike Really, are you going to trash your race bike? The best investment you can have is a dedicated rain bike. Leave the fenders, the LED lamps, and the mountain bike pedals on your winter bike. When the clouds cut loose, you’ll be far happier to submerge your bad-weather beater knowing that your race bike is snuggling next to the fireplace at home.

If you don’t already have an old bike hanging in the garage, shop for something with generous room for fenders in the frame and fork. Good luck and ride safe.

I am circumnavigating the globe by bicycle for breast, prostate, and lung cancer charity. I recently crossed the United States from Vancouver Canada down the Pacific Coast to San Diego and Mexico then across the continent to the Atlantic Ocean in Florida. That leg consisted of riding 100+ miles per day covering 5500 miles and 180,000 ft of elevation. Next on to Europe and China. The posted blogs are my personal opinion and thoughts.

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